What are the effects and functions of Ligustrum lucidum fruit?

Oct 08, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Xiuhong

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, Ligustrum lucidum, as a traditional Chinese herb, has various effects and benefits, including nourishing the liver and kidneys, improving eyesight, darkening hair, enriching yin and clearing heat, lowering blood glucose and lipid levels, and enhancing immune function. As a traditional Chinese medicinal material, Ligustrum lucidum offers multiple therapeutic effects. When using this herb, it is essential to strictly follow medical advice and medication guidelines to ensure its safe and effective therapeutic use.

Under normal circumstances, Ligustrum lucidum (Nuzhenzi), as a traditional Chinese herb, has various effects and benefits, including nourishing the liver and kidneys, improving vision and darkening hair, clearing heat while nourishing yin, lowering blood glucose and lipid levels, and enhancing immunity. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Nourishing the Liver and Kidneys

Ligustrum lucidum has a sweet and slightly bitter taste with a cool nature, and it primarily affects the liver and kidney meridians. It is known for its ability to tonify the liver and kidneys. By nourishing the yin of the liver and kidneys, it helps alleviate symptoms caused by deficiency of liver and kidney yin, such as dizziness, tinnitus, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees. It is commonly used to treat conditions such as hypertension and neurasthenia due to liver-kidney yin deficiency, as well as to relieve discomfort symptoms in menopausal women.

2. Improving Vision and Darkening Hair

Ligustrum lucidum also promotes visual health and darkens hair. It effectively improves blurred vision and vision loss, and treats premature graying of hair. This effect stems from its capacity to nourish the liver and kidneys and promote the generation of essence and blood, thereby enhancing the nutritional status of the eyes and hair. Additionally, Ligustrum lucidum can be combined with other Chinese herbs such as black sesame seeds and Lycium barbarum (Gouqizi) to enhance its effects on vision and hair health.

3. Nourishing Yin and Clearing Heat

With its cool nature, Ligustrum lucidum nourishes yin and clears internal heat, helping to relieve symptoms such as thirst, irritability, and潮heat associated with yin deficiency and internal heat. It helps regulate the body's yin-yang balance and reduce internal heat production, thus alleviating related symptoms. It is frequently used in treating conditions like diabetes and hyperthyroidism characterized by excessive fire due to yin deficiency.

4. Lowering Blood Glucose and Lipids

Ligustrum lucidum also exhibits hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. Its active components help regulate insulin secretion and carbohydrate metabolism, thereby reducing blood glucose levels. At the same time, it inhibits fat synthesis and promotes fat breakdown, leading to reduced blood lipid levels.

5. Enhancing Immunity

Ligustrum lucidum strengthens the immune system. Its multiple bioactive components stimulate the body's immune system, increasing both the activity and number of immune cells, thereby enhancing the body’s resistance to disease. Therefore, it is often used in treating various infectious diseases and tumors associated with low immunity.

As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Ligustrum lucidum offers diverse therapeutic benefits. When using this herb, it is essential to strictly follow medical advice and proper medication guidelines to ensure safe and effective treatment outcomes.

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Can Ligustrum lucidum fruit be steeped in water for drinking?

Under normal circumstances, Ligustrum fruit (Nuzhenzi) can be steeped in water for consumption. Nuzhenzi has a sweet and bitter taste with a cool property, and it is associated with the liver and kidney meridians. It functions to nourish the liver and kidneys, improve vision, and darken hair. It may help alleviate symptoms such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, and hearing loss caused by yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys. Additionally, it may help protect the eyes and relieve eye fatigue. However, it should be consumed in appropriate amounts under the guidance of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

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Can Ligustrum lucidum fruits be steeped in water for consumption?

Under normal circumstances, Ligustrum fruit (Nuzhenzi) can be steeped in water for consumption, but it should be taken in moderation. Nuzhenzi has the effects of improving vision and darkening hair, and may help alleviate symptoms such as dim or blurred vision, declining eyesight, and premature graying of hair caused by yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys. It also nourishes the liver and kidneys, helping to relieve symptoms such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, and tinnitus caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency.

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Are it safe to take Bajitian (Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.), Nuzhenzi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait.), and Shanzhuyu (Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc.) together?

Under normal circumstances, it is acceptable to take Yizhiren (Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.), Nvzhenzi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait.), and Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc. together. These three herbs respectively have the functions of nourishing the kidneys and enhancing intelligence, nourishing yin and replenishing the liver, and warming and tonifying the liver and kidneys. For symptoms such as memory loss and dizziness with tinnitus caused by kidney deficiency, if the individual's constitution is suitable and there are no other contraindications, these three Chinese herbs, when appropriately combined under the guidance of a TCM practitioner, can produce a synergistic and enhanced therapeutic effect.

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Can Ligustrum lucidum fruits be steeped directly in water for consumption?

Under normal circumstances, Ligustrum fruit (Nuzhenzi) can be steeped directly in water for consumption, but attention should be paid to moderation. Nuzhenzi is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb derived from the dried ripe fruit of the Ligustrum lucidum plant in the Oleaceae family. It has a sweet and bitter taste, a cooling property, and is associated with the liver and kidney meridians. It functions to nourish the liver and kidneys, improve vision, darken hair, and clear heat while reducing internal fire. Drinking an appropriate amount of Nuzhenzi steeped in water may help alleviate symptoms such as yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys and dizziness with tinnitus to some extent.